Nerve to quadratus femoris muscle

At a glance

English

Nerve to quadratus femoris muscle

Latin (TA2)

Nervus musculi quadrati femoris

System

Nerve

Region

Lower limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the nerve to quadratus femoris muscle

The nerve to quadratus femoris arises from the anterior divisions of the anterior rami of the fourth and fifth lumbar and first sacral nerves. It leaves the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen below piriformis, lying deep, that is in front of, the sciatic nerve.

In the buttock it descends directly on the back of the ischium and the capsule of the hip joint, deep to the sciatic nerve, the tendon of obturator internus and the two gemelli. It gives a branch to inferior gemellus and an articular branch to the hip joint, and ends by entering the deep (anterior) surface of quadratus femoris. Superior gemellus, by contrast, is supplied by the nerve to obturator internus.

Quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus rotate the thigh outwards. Because the nerve lies on the bone, deep to the other short rotators, it is shielded in most buttock injuries, but it can be at risk in posterior approaches to the hip and in operations on the back of the acetabulum. Its articular branch is one of the nerves that carry pain from the hip joint, and in some techniques it is among the targets when the nerves of the hip capsule are blocked to relieve hip pain.

Course and supply

Arises from

Anterior divisions of the anterior rami of L4, L5 and S1, in the sacral plexus.

Ends in

Ends in quadratus femoris, after branches to inferior gemellus and the hip joint.

Supplies

Motor to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus; sensory (articular) to the hip joint.